Holder for sharpening hog axes

ABSTRACT

A substantially U-shaped holder is adapted to receive the butt end of a woodsman&#39;&#39;s ax, commonly known as &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;hog ax&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; and is provided with means for supporting the holder in position with the ax therein during the sharpening operation.

United States Patent 1 1 3,589,706

[72) Inventor Adrie L. Putman [56] References Cited l00 Mountain Fir Drive, Dunsmuir, Calif. UNn-ED STATES PATENTS N 2x 2,437,719 3/1948 Carpentier 269/102 P od'ao 1968 2,911,022 11/1959 Brown.... 269/102 x [22] d 971 2,659,561 11/1953 Kindorf.. 24 243 [451 Pawn 3,246,867 4/1966 Ewing 24 243.2 )0 1,569,809 1/1926 Johnson 7/6.! X Primary ExaminerAndrew R. Juhasz Assistant Examiner--Donald D. Evenson [54] ge izzg z HOG AXES Attorney-Alexander B. Blair [52] U.S.Cl 269/102,

7/8.] ABSTRACT: A substantially U-shaped holder is adapted to [5 1] Int. Cl B25b 3/00 receive the butt end of a woodsmans ax, commonly known as [50] Field of Search 269/ l 02, hog ax" and is provided with means for supporting the holder 246, I, 2, ;24/243.2, 243 CC; 248/2l3, 216; in position with the ax therein during the sharpening operal45/3;7/8.l tion.

PATENTED JUN29 Ian INVENTOR. fi e/5 Z. Pam/AN Armewzr HOLDER FOR SHARPENING HOG AXES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is the common practice to hold an ax between the knees while filing it or otherwise sharpening it, and it is extremely difficult to hold the ax steady during the sharpening operation. It is well know, of course, that axes used by woodsmen must be kept very sharp and accordingly it is necessary frequently to sharpen the ax which is an awkward operation as stated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention comprises a U-shaped upwardly opening socket or holder to receive the butt or flat end of a hog ax, that is, the end commonly used as a hammer. The ax so arranged in the holder will have its cutting edge extending upwardly beyond the holder to be accessible for sharpening. The bottom of the holder is provided with a vertical projection acting as a support for the holder, and this projection is in the form of an integral spike adapted to be driven into a fallen log before the ax is inserted, to rigidly support the holder in position during the sharpening operation. One end of the holder is provided with a transverse wall against which the ax is arranged, and one wall of the holder is provided with a threaded opening to receive a setscrew which is tightened against the ax to fix it in position. The end wall renders it unnecessary to use but one setscrew, the base of the holder and the end wall together with the setscrew rigidly holding the ax in proper position for sharpening.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the device, a portion being shown in section, a fallen supporting log and the ax being shown in position in dotted lines;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the device, the ax being shown in dotted lines; and

FIG. 3 is an end elevation of the same.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The body of the device is indicated as a whole by the numeral and is formed preferably of steel and of U-shaped upwardly opening cross section, having sidewalls l2 and a base 14. A hog ax 16 is shown in position in the device, this ax having an upper cutting edge 18 and a lower or butt end 20 adapted to be used as a hammer. The ax, of course, is provided with the usual handle 22.

The bottom of the device is provided with a depending integral supporting element 24, preferably in the form of a spike having a sharpened lower end 26 adapted to be driven downwardly into position in any supporting body such as a fallen log 28 in woods where the work is being done. One end of the body 10 is provided with a transverse wall 30 against which one end of the ax is abutted as shown in FIG. 1. Thus the ax contacts with the end wall and the base I4 to be held rigidly in position during the sharpening operation.

One sidewall 12 is provided with a threaded opening 32 to receive a setscrew 34, the inner end of which is adapted to engage against the side of the ax as shown in FIG. 2 to clamp it into position during the sharpening operation. A nut 36 is preferably welded against the sidewall 12 having the opening 32 therein to form a longer threaded opening to rigidly support the nut 34.

OPERATION When it is desired to sharpen an ax, the device 10 is placed in position with the spike end downwardly over a log 28 which may be found in the woods. The butt end of the ax may be used to drive the device downwardly so that the spike 24 enters the log 28 as shown in FIG. I. This placing of the device anchors it rigidly in position for the following sharpening operation.

The butt end of the ax is then placed-in the holder 10 as shown in the drawing, the hammer end 20 resting on the base 14 and the right hand end of the ax, as viewed in FIG. 1, being seated against the wall 30. A wrench is then applied to the setscrew 34 to tighten it against the ax, and the latter will thereby be held in rigid position in the holder. Since the ax seats solidly against the bottom wall 14 and against the end wall 30, a single setscrew 34 will serve to rigidly fix the ax in position, it being impossible for it to move in any direction. The sharpening operation then may be carried out ,by filing the sides of the edge 18 to provide the usual very sharp edge required in cutting logs in the woods. The holder 10 may be left in position as shown in FIG. I for subsequent operations until the day's work is done, whereupon the holder may be tapped back and forth to loosen it from the log and remove it.

As stated, it is common practice for a Woodsman to support an ax by clamping it between his knees while usinga file or other sharpening implement to sharpen the edge of the ax. It is quite impossible to hold the ax in rigid position for the sharpening operation in this manner. Some woodsmen lay the ax flat on one knee while holding it with one hand and sharpening it with the other. This is an equally awkward operation, it being impossible with either conventional method of sharpening an ax to hold it rigidly in position against movement. The present device is simple and easy to use and serves to rigidly support the ax so that the sharpening operation may take place by using both hands to hold and guide the file.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided an improved Holder for Sharpening Hog Axes which accomplishes all of the objects of this invention and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

As various embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as many modifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

lclaim:

1. A holder for sharpening an ax comprising a body of upwardly opening U-shape having a single base portion and sidewalls extending upwardly from each side thereof and between which sidewalls the lower part of an ax is adapted to be arranged with the butt end of the ax in slidable engagement with said base and with the cutting edge of the ax projecting upwardly beyond the holder, only one end of the holder having a transverse wall against which one end of the ax is adapted to be arranged, one of said sidewalls having a, threaded opening, a setscrew threaded in said opening and, 

1. A holder for sharpening an ax comprising a body of upwardly opening U-shape having a single base portion and sidewalls extending upwardly from each side thereof and between which sidewalls the lower part of an ax is adapted to be arranged with the butt end of the ax in slidable engagement with said base and with the cutting edge of the ax projecting upwardly beyond the holder, only one end of the holder having a transverse wall against which one end of the ax is adapted to be arranged, one of said sidewalls having a threaded opening, a setscrew threaded in said opening and having its inner end engaged with the ax to hold it rigidly in position without sliding relative to said base, and a straight single pointed spike secured to the bottom of said base and extending downward transversely therefrom allowing the sharpener to simultaneously rigidly secure said holder and the ax with one swing of the ax by means of said spike after said screw has been tightened against the ax. 